Binding machines

ABSTRACT

A binding machine is described for use in uncoiling the fingers of a binding comb (50), preparatory to an insertion of the fingers (54) of the comb into the apertures (48) provided in a packet or stack of sheets (46) to be bound together. The machine comprises a housing (6) supported for rectilinear reciprocal movement a drive plate (8), said drive plate being provided adjacent opposite side edges with a series of aperture (10), affording a rack, engageable by respective pinions (12) of the machine. The housing (6) is provided with a plurality of fixed abutment elements (28), a clamping member (16) being mounted on the housing for movement between a retracted position and an advanced position, in which advanced position clamping elements (18) of the clamping member are disposed closely adjacent to fixed abutment elements (28), to clamp the spine (52) of a binding comb therebetween. An operating member (36) is also mounted on the housing for movement between a retracted position and an advanced position, such movement of the operating member causing fingers (38) thereof to engage within the coiled fingers (54) of the binding comb, and causing them to be unwound allowing the fingers (54) to be inserted into the apertures (48) of the packet. Movement of the drive plate (8) from its rest position causes the clamping member (16) to be moved to its advanced position, and then the operating member (36) to its advanced position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is concerned with improvements relating to bindingmachines, particularly of the kind (hereinafter referred to as being ofthe kind specified) for binding packets having a row of apertures orperforations adjacent to one side edge, by the use of and a bindingelement (conveniently termed a "comb") comprising a spine and a seriesof curved, flexible fingers which may be located in the apertures of thepacket, to bind the sheets of the packet together into book-like form.

Difficulty is encountered in the provision of a machine of the kindspecified, which will clamp the binding element in a convenientposition, and straighten the fingers to allow them to be inserted intothe apertures of a stack, during a binding operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to this invention there is provided a binding machine of thekind specified comprising clamping a mechanism to clamp a bindingelement and an operating member operative to cause the fingers of thebinding element to be uncoiled, the clamping mechanism being moved to anoperative position prior to movement of the operating member to souncoil the binding element.

Preferably the clamping mechanism is operative to clamp the bindingelement at a plurality of spaced positions, preferably said positionsbeing spaced a distance equal to the spacing between the fingers of thebinding element.

Preferably said clamping is effected under the action of a spring. Thus,advantageously, the clamping mechanism comprises clamping elements whichare urged by the action of a spring into engagement with fixed abutmentelements.

Preferably the operating and clamping mechanisms are moved by a singleolive mechanism, such as a rack and pinion. Thus advantageously themachine comprises drive means to so effect movement of the operating andclamping mechanisms.

Preferably the operating member comprises a plurality of fingers, theoperating member being so constructed and arranged that on movement ofthe operating member to an advanced position, said fingers moveinitially laterally to positions in which they engage within the coiledfingers of the binding element, and then longitudinally to unwind thecoiled fingers, preparatory to insertion of the uncoiled fingers intothe apertures of the packet to be bound.

According to this invention there is also provided a binding machine ofthe kind specified comprising

a) a housing provided with a plurality of fixed abutment elements;

b) a clamping member mounted on the housing for movement between aretracted position and an advanced position, in which advanced positionclamping elements of the clamping member are disposed closely adjacentto abutment elements;

c) a drive member linearly movable in a first direction to a restposition and in a second direction to an advanced position; and

d) an operating member movable between a retracted position and anadvanced position,

wherein consequent upon movement of the drive member to its restposition the clamping member is moved to its retracted position and theoperating member to its retracted position, and on movement of the drivemember to its advanced position the clamping member is moved to itsadvanced position to clamp the binding element and the operating memberto its advanced position, fingers of the operating member moving firstlaterally to a position adjacent to the fingers of the binding element,and then longitudinally to uncoil the fingers of the binding element.

Advantageously the operating member comprises a plurality of fingers,each finger comprising a longitudinal portion and a transverse portion,lateral movement of the operating member causing each of the transverseportions of the fingers to engage within a coiled finger of a bindingelement clamped by the clamping member, and longitudinal movementcausing the transverse portion to unwind the coiled finger.

Advantageously, means is provided which is operative on initial movementof the drive member from its rest position to cause the operating memberto move solely laterally, and further means operative subsequently tocause the operating member to move solely longitudinally.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

There will now be given a detailed description, to be read withreference to the accompanying drawings, of a binding machine which is apreferred embodiment of this invention, having been selected for thepurposes of illustrating the invention by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of part of the machine which is thepreferred embodiment of the invention in a first, clamped position;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view, parts having been removed forclarity;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are plan views of the machine, again parts having beenremoved for clarity, showing elements of the machine in differentpositions during operation of the machine;

FIGS. 6 to 9 are perspective views showing various stages in the use ofthe machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The machine which is the preferred embodiment of the invention isspecifically of the kind specified, being for use in the uncoiling ofthe fingers of the binding element, of the kind conveniently known as abinding comb, preparatory to an insertion of the fingers of the combinto the apertures provided in a packet or stack of sheets to be boundtogether.

The machine comprises a housing 6 supporting for rectilinear reciprocalmovement a drive member in the form of a drive plate 8, said drive platebeing provided adjacent opposite edges with a series of apertures 10,affording a rack, engageable by respective pinions 12 of the machine, aswill hereinafter be described. Mounted within an enclosure 14 of thehousing is a clamping member 16, said clamping member comprising aplurality of clamping elements 18, each of which protrudes through awindow or opening 20 of the enclosure 14 (see FIG. 2), the clampingmember 16 being urged to a forward position by a number of spring means22 acting between the housing and the clamping member 16, as is shown inFIG. 1. In said forward position clamping faces 24 of the elements 18are disposed in close proximity to inclined abutment members 28 of thehousing 6, to permit parts of a binding comb 50 to be clampedtherebetween (see also FIG. 1).

The housing also comprises a base plate 30 provided with two elongateslots 32, into which studs 34 of the drive member 8 extend, to ensurerectilinear movement of the drive member 8 over the base plate 30 (seeFIG. 4).

The machine also comprises an operating member 36 in the form of a flatplate slidable over the drive plate 8 and beneath a top plate 29 of thehousing, the operating member 36 being provided at its forward end witha plurality of inclined fingers 38, each comprising a longitudinalportion 38a and a transverse portion 38b (FIG. 2), the fingers 38extending through openings 29a of the plate 29, large enough to permitmovement of the fingers. The operating member 36 is provided with threeinclined, parallel guide slots 39, into which fixed studs 40 of thedrive plate extend, whilst guiding members in the form of tangs 42extending downwardly from a rear edge of the operating member extendinto guide slots 44 of the base plate 30, said guide slots comprising alongitudinal section 44a and a short transverse section 44b (see FIGS.3, 4 and 5).

FIGS. 1 and 4 show the drive plate 8 in its rest or retracted position,in engagement with the clamping member 16 and depressing the clampingmember 16 against the action of the springs 22, so that the clampingelements 18 are partially withdrawn into the windows 20, as is shown inFIG. 2. In this position, the portion 38b of the fingers 38 are located,in a lateral direction, directly in front of adjacent abutments 28 (seealso FIG. 6).

In the use of the machine, a binding comb 50 comprising a spine 52 and aseries of curved, flexible fingers 54 is inserted into the linear spacebetween the abutments 28 and the retracted clamping elements 18, and adrive operation of the machine is commenced, such as by depression of anoperating handle 13, causing the pinions 12 to rotate to move the driveplate 8 in the direction of the arrow G, the rear edge of the driveplate allowing the clamping member 16 to move in the housing 6 and theclamping elements 18 to move towards the abutments 28, clamping thespine 52 of the comb therebetween, the coiled fingers 54 being locatedlaterally between adjacent abutments 28.

Such movement of the drive plate causes the studs 40 to move along theinclined guide slots 39, causing the operating member 36 to move in thedirection of the arrow J, as the tangs 42 move within the lateralportion 44b of the guide slot 44, causing the portions 38b of thefingers to move within the coiled fingers of the binding member (seeFIGS. 1 and 8). Further movement of the drive plate 8 causes linearmovement of the operating member 30 in the direction of the arrow G, asthe tangs 42 move within the portions 44a of the guide slots 44, thefingers 38b pulling the fingers 54 of the binding comb open (shown indotted lines in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 9), allowing a stack of sheets 46 tobe bound together to be located on the binding member, with the fingers54 being inserted through the apertures 48 provided adjacent the sideedge of the stack. On completion of such mounting the drive member 8 ismoved by the pinion in the reverse direction, in the direction of thearrow H, the operating member 36 moving with the drive plate and thefingers 38 of the operating member moving to allow the fingers of thebinding member to return to their coiled state, around the side edge ofthe stack of documentary material. As the tangs 42 engage with the endsof the portion 44a of the slots 44, continued movement of the driveplate 8, and engagement of the studs 40 on the side edge of the guideslots 39, causes the operating member 36 to move in the direction K, thetangs 42 moving in the portions 44b of the slots 44 as the fingers movefrom engagement with the fingers of the binding member. On finalmovement of the operating member in the direction H, it engages theclamping member 16 and moves it rearwardly against the action of thesprings 22, causing the clamping elements 18 to withdraw from theabutments 28, allowing the bound pack to be taken from the machine.

Whilst in the preferred embodiment the clamping member 16 is movedforwardly to clamp the spine 52 of a comb against the fixed abutments 38by the springs 22, if desired the clamping member may be interconnectedwith the operating member 36 in a manner such that, as the fingers 38move in the direction J, the plate 29 is engaged by a pin and slotarrangement to cause the clamping members 16 to move forwardly (in thedirection A) into clamping positions. On completion of the bindingoperation, movement of the operating member 36 in the direction K maythen physically cause the clamping member 16 to retract, to release thecomb for removal.

I claim:
 1. In a binding machine for binding packets of sheets having aplurality of apertures adjacent a side edge of the packets, said machineincludinga binding element having a spine and a plurality of curved,flexible, coilable, binding fingers for insertion in said apertures tobind the sheets into a book-like form, a clamping mechanism for clampingthe binding element, and an operating member for uncoiling the bindingfingers of the binding element, the improvement comprising:a) a singledrive member for both said clamping mechanism and said operating memberand moveable among an inoperative position, a first operative positionand a second operative position; and b) drive means for moving saiddrive member from said inoperative position to said first operativeposition and causing said clamping mechanism to clamp the bindingelement, and for moving said drive member from said first operativeposition to said second operative position and causing said operatingmember to uncoil the binding fingers of the binding element.
 2. Theimprovement of claim 1, wherein the binding fingers of the bindingelement are spaced apart at a plurality of spacings, and wherein theclamping mechanism is operative for clamping the binding element at aplurality of spaced positions equal to said spacings.
 3. The improvementof claim 1, wherein the clamping mechanism includes a plurality ofclamping elements and a spring means; and further comprising a pluralityof fixed abutment elements; and wherein said spring means is operativefor urging said clamping elements into engagement with said fixedabutment elements.
 4. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the operatingmember includes a plurality of operating fingers initially moveable in alateral direction to positions in which the operating fingers engagewithin the binding fingers, and subsequently moveable in a longitudinaldirection to positions in which the binding fingers are uncoiled priorto insertion in said apertures.
 5. A binding machine for binding packetsof sheets having a plurality of apertures adjacent a side edge of thepackets, comprising:a) a housing having a plurality of fixed abutmentelements; b) a binding element having a spine and a plurality of curved,flexible, coilable, binding fingers for insertion in said apertures tobind the sheets into a book-like form; c) a clamping member having aplurality of clamping elements mounted on the housing for movementbetween a retracted clamping position, and an advanced clamping positionin which the clamping elements are located adjacent the fixed abutmentelements; d) an operating member for uncoiling the binding fingers ofthe binding element, said operating member having a plurality ofoperating fingers moveable between a retracted operating position, andan advanced operating position; e) a single drive member for both saidclamping member and said operating member and moveable linearly in afirst direction to a rest position, and in a second direction to anadvanced drive position; f) drive means for moving said drive member tosaid rest position upon which said clamping member is moved to saidretracted clamping position, and said operating member is moved to saidretracted operating position, said drive means being further operativefor moving said drive member to said advanced drive position upon whichsaid clamping member is moved to said advanced clamping position toclamp said binding element, and said operating member is moved to saidadvanced operating position; and g) said operating fingers beinginitially moveable in a lateral direction to positions adjacent saidbinding fingers, and being subsequently moveable in a longitudinaldirection to positions in which said binding fingers are uncoiled priorto insertion in said apertures.
 6. The binding machine of claim 5,wherein each operating finger includes a longitudinal portion and atransverse portion, each transverse portion being moveable along thelateral direction to engage within a respective binding finger clampedby said clamping member, each transverse portion being moveable alongthe longitudinal direction to uncoil the respective binding finger.